New Dollar Store Study
New Report Finds 81% of Dollar Store Products Tested Contain One or More Hazardous Chemicals Linked to Learning Disabilities, Cancer & Other Serious Illnesses
Organizations Call on Dollar Stores to Protect Communities of Color and Low-Income Families from Toxic Products
Healthy Stuff, in collaboration with the Campaign for Healthier Solutions,
released a report today about toxic chemicals found in Dollar store products.
The report -- A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Discount Retailers are Falling Behind on Safer Chemicals – includes testing results for 164 dollar store products such as toys, jewelry, school supplies and other household items, that found over 81% (133 of 164) contained at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern.
The campaign also sent a letter today to the CEO’s of the four largest Dollar store chains -- including Family Dollar (tentatively acquired by Dollar Tree on January 22), Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and 99 Cents Only – urging them to stop the sale of products with hazardous chemicals to communities of color and low-income families, who already live in more polluted areas and “food deserts,” and adopt policies that will protect both customers and their businesses. Combined these discount chains have sales totaling over $36 billion and operate more stores nationally than Walmart.
“People struggling to make ends meet are confined to shopping at the Dollar stores,” said José T. Bravo, National Coordinator for the Campaign for Healthier Solutions. “We are already disproportionately affected by pollution and lack of adequate medical care, and now we know we’re filling our homes and our bodies with chemicals released from Dollar store products. This needs to stop.”
"We've tested 1,000's of products from dozens of retailers over the last ten years, said Jeff Gearhart, HealthyStuff Research Director. "And on average the dollar store products are some of the poorest peforming from a chemical hazard perspective. I am particularly concerned about the comparatively high percentage of products containing hazardous plasticizers."
The chemicals of concern found in Dollar store products tested for this report include: phthalates, linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, cancer, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other health issues; polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl), which creates hazards throughout its life cycle and has been linked to asthma and lung effects; and toxic metals such as lead, which harms brain development, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and cause other serious health impacts, especially in children.
Other key findings from the report include:
In addition, 40% of sales at Dollar stores go toward food products (not tested for this report) – much of which is highly processed with low nutritional quality, and whose packaging is another potential source of toxic chemicals including bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic hormone linked to breast and others cancers, reproductive problems, obesity, early puberty and heart disease.
Fortunately, there is a growing movement by mainstream retail and manufacturing brands – including Target and Walmart – to respond to consumer demand for safer products with publicly-available corporate policies that identify, disclose, and replace priority toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. By failing to address toxic chemicals through comprehensive policies, Dollar chains are not only putting their customers at risk, they are exposing their businesses to the fate of companies like Mattel, which lost 18% of its value after recalling toys with lead paint, and Sigg USA, which went bankrupt after failing to disclose toxic BPA in its water bottles.
The Campaign for Healthier Solutions is asking for a comprehensive set of reforms, including that:
Discount Retailers immediately remove children’s products found to contain regulated phthalates and lead from store shelves; and adopt comprehensive corporate chemical management policies to identify, disclose, and remove hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and from all products in their stores, beginning with their house brands.
Local, State, and Federal Governments ensure that discount retailers comply with all relevant laws and regulations; and adopt public policies (such as Maine’s Kid-Safe Products Law and Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act) that require manufacturers and retailers to disclose hazardous chemicals in products, research alternatives, and remove hazardous chemicals when alternatives are available, effective, and safer.
Families and Communities let Dollar store chains know that they want safer products, and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.
Complete test results are available at HealthyStuff.org. The full report and more information about the Campaign are available at www.nontoxicdollarstores.org
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IMPORTANT NOTE: HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical.
New Report Finds 81% of Dollar Store Products Tested Contain One or More Hazardous Chemicals Linked to Learning Disabilities, Cancer & Other Serious Illnesses
Organizations Call on Dollar Stores to Protect Communities of Color and Low-Income Families from Toxic Products
Healthy Stuff, in collaboration with the Campaign for Healthier Solutions,
released a report today about toxic chemicals found in Dollar store products.
The report -- A Day Late and a Dollar Short: Discount Retailers are Falling Behind on Safer Chemicals – includes testing results for 164 dollar store products such as toys, jewelry, school supplies and other household items, that found over 81% (133 of 164) contained at least one hazardous chemical above levels of concern.
The campaign also sent a letter today to the CEO’s of the four largest Dollar store chains -- including Family Dollar (tentatively acquired by Dollar Tree on January 22), Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and 99 Cents Only – urging them to stop the sale of products with hazardous chemicals to communities of color and low-income families, who already live in more polluted areas and “food deserts,” and adopt policies that will protect both customers and their businesses. Combined these discount chains have sales totaling over $36 billion and operate more stores nationally than Walmart.
“People struggling to make ends meet are confined to shopping at the Dollar stores,” said José T. Bravo, National Coordinator for the Campaign for Healthier Solutions. “We are already disproportionately affected by pollution and lack of adequate medical care, and now we know we’re filling our homes and our bodies with chemicals released from Dollar store products. This needs to stop.”
"We've tested 1,000's of products from dozens of retailers over the last ten years, said Jeff Gearhart, HealthyStuff Research Director. "And on average the dollar store products are some of the poorest peforming from a chemical hazard perspective. I am particularly concerned about the comparatively high percentage of products containing hazardous plasticizers."
The chemicals of concern found in Dollar store products tested for this report include: phthalates, linked to birth defects, reduced fertility, cancer, learning disabilities, diabetes, and other health issues; polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC or vinyl), which creates hazards throughout its life cycle and has been linked to asthma and lung effects; and toxic metals such as lead, which harms brain development, leading to learning disabilities, lower IQ, and cause other serious health impacts, especially in children.
Other key findings from the report include:
- 49% of products tested (80 of 164) contained two or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern;
- 38% of the products tested (63 of 164) contained the toxic plastic PVC (vinyl);
- 32% of a subset of vinyl products tested for phthalates (12 of 38) contained levels of phthalates above the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) limit for children’s products.
In addition, 40% of sales at Dollar stores go toward food products (not tested for this report) – much of which is highly processed with low nutritional quality, and whose packaging is another potential source of toxic chemicals including bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic hormone linked to breast and others cancers, reproductive problems, obesity, early puberty and heart disease.
Fortunately, there is a growing movement by mainstream retail and manufacturing brands – including Target and Walmart – to respond to consumer demand for safer products with publicly-available corporate policies that identify, disclose, and replace priority toxic chemicals with safer alternatives. By failing to address toxic chemicals through comprehensive policies, Dollar chains are not only putting their customers at risk, they are exposing their businesses to the fate of companies like Mattel, which lost 18% of its value after recalling toys with lead paint, and Sigg USA, which went bankrupt after failing to disclose toxic BPA in its water bottles.
The Campaign for Healthier Solutions is asking for a comprehensive set of reforms, including that:
Discount Retailers immediately remove children’s products found to contain regulated phthalates and lead from store shelves; and adopt comprehensive corporate chemical management policies to identify, disclose, and remove hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and from all products in their stores, beginning with their house brands.
Local, State, and Federal Governments ensure that discount retailers comply with all relevant laws and regulations; and adopt public policies (such as Maine’s Kid-Safe Products Law and Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act) that require manufacturers and retailers to disclose hazardous chemicals in products, research alternatives, and remove hazardous chemicals when alternatives are available, effective, and safer.
Families and Communities let Dollar store chains know that they want safer products, and join local and national efforts advocating for nontoxic products.
Complete test results are available at HealthyStuff.org. The full report and more information about the Campaign are available at www.nontoxicdollarstores.org
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Stay connectedSign up for updates
Follow us on Facebook
Find us on Instagram
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IMPORTANT NOTE: HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical.
Healthy Stuff
Welcome to our new site! We are currently renovating HealthyStuff, please excuse the dust as we rearrange the site!
Healthy Stuff.org’s
mission is to research toxic chemicals found in everyday products. This site is based on research conducted by environmental health organizations and other researchers around the country. The Ecology Centercreated HealthyStuff.org and leads its research and development.
Reports
Concerned about a product hazard?
A number of US regulatory agencies are charged with addressing dangerous consumer products. In general, chemical hazards in consumer products are poorly regulated and outside a few examples (toys & some children's products) consumers are largely left unprotected. HealthyStuff still encourages consumers to report products related chemical hazards to the appropriate agency.
General Consumer Products: US Consumer Product Safety Commission Unsafe Product Report
Vehicles and Car Seats: SaferCar.gov is the NHTSA site where you can identify and report problems you might be having with your vehicle, tires, equipment or car seats.
HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical. HealthyStuff.org ratings provide only a relative measure of high, medium, and low levels of concern for several hazardous chemicals or chemical elements in an individual product in comparison to criteria established in the site methodology.
HealthyStuff Reports
Dollar Store Report
In conjunction with the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, HealthyStuff.org tested 164 products purchased at four major discount retailers—Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only—in six U.S. states.
Ghosts of Christmas Past
HealthyStuff.org tested 69 seasonal holiday products purchased in November 2014 from major retailers. More than two-thirds of the products contained at least one hazardous chemical at levels of concern. Beaded garlands were found to contain a multitude of toxic contaminants, mirroring the results from our 2013 study of beaded garlands.
Halloween Study
HealthyStuff.org tested 106 Halloween related products, including costumes, accessories, decorations and party favors. Our testing found heavy metals and other additives are commonly found in Halloween costumes and accessories. These chemicals include lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates -- harmful chemicals that are linked to asthma, reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer.
Take Action
Ask discount stores to clean up their act!
Send your message right now>> New testing of dollar store products released today found that 81% of the products tested contained one or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern, and almost ...
Help us phase out toxic flame retardants in furniture
Take action today>> As the #1 manufacturer and retailer of furniture in the country and one of the largest worldwide, Ashley Furniture could have a big impact in getting these harmful chemicals...
Welcome to our new site! We are currently renovating HealthyStuff, please excuse the dust as we rearrange the site!
Healthy Stuff.org’s
mission is to research toxic chemicals found in everyday products. This site is based on research conducted by environmental health organizations and other researchers around the country. The Ecology Centercreated HealthyStuff.org and leads its research and development.
Reports
- 2011/2012 Guide to New Vehicles: This report contains our most recent set of vehicle screening as well as historic test results for nearly 1,000 vehicles.
- Mardi Gras Bead Study, 2013: The report contains data on our 2013 Mardi Gras bead study.
Concerned about a product hazard?
A number of US regulatory agencies are charged with addressing dangerous consumer products. In general, chemical hazards in consumer products are poorly regulated and outside a few examples (toys & some children's products) consumers are largely left unprotected. HealthyStuff still encourages consumers to report products related chemical hazards to the appropriate agency.
General Consumer Products: US Consumer Product Safety Commission Unsafe Product Report
Vehicles and Car Seats: SaferCar.gov is the NHTSA site where you can identify and report problems you might be having with your vehicle, tires, equipment or car seats.
HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical. HealthyStuff.org ratings provide only a relative measure of high, medium, and low levels of concern for several hazardous chemicals or chemical elements in an individual product in comparison to criteria established in the site methodology.
HealthyStuff Reports
Dollar Store Report
In conjunction with the Campaign for Healthier Solutions, HealthyStuff.org tested 164 products purchased at four major discount retailers—Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only—in six U.S. states.
Ghosts of Christmas Past
HealthyStuff.org tested 69 seasonal holiday products purchased in November 2014 from major retailers. More than two-thirds of the products contained at least one hazardous chemical at levels of concern. Beaded garlands were found to contain a multitude of toxic contaminants, mirroring the results from our 2013 study of beaded garlands.
Halloween Study
HealthyStuff.org tested 106 Halloween related products, including costumes, accessories, decorations and party favors. Our testing found heavy metals and other additives are commonly found in Halloween costumes and accessories. These chemicals include lead, flame retardants, tin compounds and phthalates -- harmful chemicals that are linked to asthma, reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer.
Take Action
Ask discount stores to clean up their act!
Send your message right now>> New testing of dollar store products released today found that 81% of the products tested contained one or more hazardous chemicals above levels of concern, and almost ...
Help us phase out toxic flame retardants in furniture
Take action today>> As the #1 manufacturer and retailer of furniture in the country and one of the largest worldwide, Ashley Furniture could have a big impact in getting these harmful chemicals...